206 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Labour if regulations exist within the EC regarding safety standards when an EC company moves production from its parent company to another country within the EC; and if workers have the right to avail of safety standards which exist for the workers in the parent company, if those standards are higher.

EC Directives provide a uniform framework of occupational safety standards applying to companies with a workforce in any of the member states. Workers are entitled to the benefits of these standards and of any other occupational safety standards which are in force in the EC member state where they are currently employed.

207 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Labour whether there are any EC regulations/directives regarding safety standards for workers when an EC company moves its production to eastern Europe or Third World countries, to ensure that workers in those countries can avail of the safety standards which exist within the EC.

There are no EC regulations-directives regarding the application of occupational safety standards for production by companies outside the jurisdiction of the member states of the Community.